MLA's FIR against Nagaland CM CMO justifies statement
Source: The Sangai Express

Dimapur, March 02 2016: The office of Nagaland Chief Minister has said that the attention of the Chief Minister, Nagaland has been drawn to a press note issued by L Ibomcha Singh, MLA of Manipur regarding filing of an FIR against him which is being circulated widely on the social media.

"The Hon'ble MLA has maintained that the FIR has been filed under Sections 124 (A) and 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, and it is assumed that the FIR has to do with the Chief Minister's speech at the Lui Ngai Li Festival at Ukhrul, Manipur, on February 14, 2016," the Media Cell of the Chief Minister's Office, Nagaland said today.

"Now, whereas at the said festival the Chief Minister had underlined the need for Nagas to be united and expressed his opinion that emotional and cultural integration should be evolved amongst Nagas living under various administrative set ups, and that once this is achieved, Nagas can help each other for cultural and socio-economic advancement, with or without territorial or political integration," the press release said.

According to the press release of the CMO, Nagaland, the issue of integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella is as old as Nagaland Statehood with the matter being mentioned as one of the points in the 16-point Agreement signed between the Government of India and the Naga People's Convention in 1960 .

"Moreover, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had passed resolutions in the House five times supporting or reiterating the wishes of the people of Nagaland for territorial integration of the Naga-inhabited areas, namely, on December 12, 1964, August 28, 1970, September 16, 1994, December 18, 2003 and July 28, 2015," it stated.

The Chief Minister, Nagaland, had also expressed reservations against Manipur Chief Minister for passing the three controversial Bills in Manipur Assembly much against the wishes of the tribal populace of the State who continue to oppose the said Bills with four tribal MLAs even tendering their resignations from the Assembly, the press note said.

"Moreover, considering the fact that the Chief Minister is a leader of the Nagas, he has to speak for the Naga people irrespective of administrative or geographical considerations," it also said.

According to the press note, it is but natural for any Chief Minister of Nagaland to speak for Nagas when they are protesting on the streets against grievances, perceived or otherwise, whether it is in Manipur, New Delhi or Myanmar.

And it is most natural that the Chief Minister of Nagaland should be concerned when many Naga protestors are killed and hundreds injured, properties damaged and their lives threatened, as was the case in Manipur in the latter part of last year.

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